I led Nikki on a recce of Leg 4 of the Bob Graham Round, turning it into a loop starting and finishing at Honister.
We camped in the nearby valley, had breakfast at the Sky Café, and then set off into a day of challenging weather, including low cloud, drizzle, and strong winds.
The first half of the hike focused on navigation, with Nikki and I taking turns to navigate from peak to peak, explaining our decisions along the way. The conditions deteriorated after the Wasdale descent, with stronger rain and wind making the climb up Yewbarrow particularly difficult. Despite the cold and wet conditions, we pressed on to Red Pike, Steeple, Pillar, and Kirk Fell.
The descent from Pillar was particularly challenging in the wet and windy conditions, and the climb up to Kirk Fell was tough but rewarding. Given the increasingly severe weather, we decided to skip Great Gable and Green Gable, as the conditions were too dangerous, and instead followed our outward route back to Honister.
It was a great day out, despite the tough conditions, with valuable navigation practice and a solid test of our mountain skills. The challenging weather, significant distance, and elevation gain, along with the leadership and navigation responsibilities, make this a clear Quality Mountain Day.
Area :
Western Fells
The Western Fells form the southern wall of the Buttermere valley and the northern fence of Wasdale. Between the two lies Ennerdale so that in effect the group is the shape of a single horseshoe, each branch about 10 miles in length.
At the head of Ennerdale stands Great Gable. The southern arc of the group travels due west from Great Gable, the main ridge consisting of Kirk Fell, Pillar, Scoat Fell, Haycock and Caw Fell.
